Daily Yellowstone journal., 1887-02-12
SIGN OF THE THREE BALLS.
A Chat with the Proprietor-sights In .
Junk shop-Auctions.

VIM a Htiu W tHc uidHildtlNt unho
is conjured up by the sign of three balls.
Let not the impecunious young man when
he resorts furtively to the house of his
uncle be unduly Inundated. Other
young men as well connected as he have
gone before him and will come after
him; and, indeed, if he deal with a first
class establishment for there are pawn
brokers and pawnbrokers), he will find
his host a very model Of d~elicacy and dis
erection.
Enter a needy gentlewoman, heavily
yelled, at the ladies' entrance. Timidly
she gazes around and finds herself in q
long, narrow hall, scrupulously neat and
well carpeted, from n side Of which
opens a row of little rooms. On the OPP
posite wall a framed placard in gilt let
tiers assures her that all will be conducted
upon a strictly confidential basis, and
that any neglect or im~pertinence on the
part of employees is to be reported at the
Office. A deferential clerk motions her
to a seat in one of the little rooms, which
is comfortably furnished and even decor
atcd with photographs of actors and
actresses. If in immediate straits, she
may pledge her $3.50 sealskin for $25, or
q valuable ring for the price of two days
board. II not, she will keep her sacque
or her ring and so her way, musing upon
the exceeding bitterness of want that adj
mits of no alternative. The average
dealer in collaterals is not a creature of
tender sensibilities. But were the an
omaly of an unreasonable pawnbroker
to he found gifted with the powers Il a
reconteur, one might spend a week with
him for the sake of hearing what he
could tell or suggest in the way of TO
nance.
This watch with a chased monogram,
is not the same that young Newcombe
Montmorency said was at the jewelers.
for repairing? Verify it is. And when
one considers the infinitesimal salary Of
young Newcombe, the flowers and opera
tickets which he lavishes upon Miss
Midas, the bills for carriage hire and per-
fumery! Poor fellow! Why, it is all as
plain as the nose on a mans face. And
that necklace! Surely the visitor had
seen that before. And was it a week or
a fortnight ago that Miss Midas maid
was seen stealthily emerging from the
rear entrance2 Well, it is q known fact
that dressmakers and milliners have no
consciences. and the .'horrid things"
must be paid somehow, unless one chooses
to make ones own hats and dresses and
look like a fright and what is n to
do with bills coming in and a father that
RACES and swears and asks questions
about every one?
That rare old meerschaum-what hours
Of quiet smoking and meditation it sug-
gests!
That quaint silver tankard? My uncle
is afraid that was not honestly come by.
1t was put up" by a tough looking
customer. who was afterward wanted for
burglary.
..And that locket? II was brought in
by a handsome woman who had seen
better days. You'll see her initials in
diamonds on the other side. A very
striking looking woman. She seemed
quite desperate. too. Well, the next
week l read Of a suicide, and recognized
her by the description. l eve went
around to the morgue to make certain.
Yes, yes. it's a very sad business. But
often things are redeemed. Why, yes
terday a man took back his wife's dia-
monds that had been in pawn fer ten
years. And some very swell people come
here to buy things. You'd be surprised
at the number of elegant Christmas and
wedding presents we sell-jewelry, etc.
Polish 'em up, you know, and you won't
know 'em from first hand. The people
who get EN- think they all came from
some of those high toned places" And
my uncle chuckled complacently at the
recollection.
The junk shop, dark and ill smelling,
reeks of the sea. Sails and cordage are
there, and all manner of fiotsam: old iron
and copper, rags, sacks and bottles, and
heaps of unclassified rubbish. Is it pos
sible that there can be a demand for such
trash? All, yes; here is our old friend,
the rag. sack and bottle man himself
just as dirty, just as gruff as ever. But
he is not bargaining for big bottles at a
cent a piece now, and, in a non-profes-
sional mood. relaxes to quite a clever old
fellow. One learns from him how the
sails are repaired for use or cut into
smaller sails: how the bottles are washed
and resold, and work their way back into
good society; how the iron is remelted,
utilized in hardware and the manufact-
ure Of ho~rseshoes, cheap wagons, etc.
1t was here, now, that Jack Benedict
found that marvellous pair Of brass fire
dogs, which pass with the uninitiated for
an heirloom, and are the envy and ad-
miration of his friends. He bought them
for q song. and when he took them home
only the " of faith could pierce the
verdigris upon them. Indeed, Jacks
mother-in-law rated him soundly for his
bargain, and it took weeks of securing to
restore them 10 their pristine glory.
From here. too. came that quaint silver
lamp which shone so conspicuously
among the wedding gifts Of Jacks cousin
Ethel. IL was whispered among the
guests that il came from Venice, and a
lady present could swear TO having seen
the mate to it in a palace on the Grand
canal.
Have you a taste for auctions? Are
you a frequenter Of sheriffs' sales2 Here
Is the familiar red flag and the bellman is
ringing his bell. Walk in ~fearlessly, Jew
and Gentle. through doors that a week
ago would have been closed in your face.
Walk in. Mrs. Jones; you may sit on the
ottoman that my lady herself embroidered
In happier hours. You may thumb the
curtains and mantel ornaments. Here is
a cabinet that came from over seas.
You may peer into il and take out all the